View report page

23
Ear Disease.—The most common ear disease with which we
have to deal is the ordinary discharge from the external ear. The
treatment usually employed is that of putting in special drops
which tend to lift the corruptible matter from the bottom of the
ear. This is followed by thoroughly cleansing the ear, which is
afterwards dusted with a special preparation of thioform.
This method of treatment has been found reasonably satisfactory,
but the period of invalidity and incapacity, i.e., the period
during which the children are oftentimes off school, could materially
be decreased if we could offer the more up-to-date electrical
treatment known as ionisation. The introduction of this treatment
could be undertaken for a very modest expenditure of money, and
is only really a question of providing the necessary time for your
medical officers to carry it out.
This extra time would be required because, whilst the present
treatment is carried out by your nursing staff, the electrical
treatment would require the constant attendance and supervision
of a medical officer.
Dental Defects.—Dental defects are very adequately dealt
with at the Dental Clinic. The work at this Clinic is set forth in
detail in a report by Mr. Smyth.
Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.—" Crippling defects"
within the meaning of the Board of Education has rather a wider
application than is usually understood by this term. It includes
severe cases of heart disease.
With special reference to crippling defects that come under
the heading of orthopaedics, I may say these are dealt with bv
your consultant, Mr. Whitchurch Howell, who holds a Clinic at
Faircross one half-day a month. Miss Findlay carries out the
prescribed treatment on three days a week.
This work is very highly appreciated by parents and teachers,
and I know that you value it highly. The time has come when an
extension of these services is urgently required, and you have
quite enough work for the services of a whole-time nurse. You